Sealing means for exterior panel wall structures



Dec. 26, 1967 H. L. BIRUM, JR I 3,359,700

SEALING MEANS FOR EXTERIOR PANEL WALL STRUCTURES Filed Nov. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

lea-75 527 z. Avid/W) Dec. 26, 1967 H. L- BIRUM, JR

SEALING MEANS FOR EXTERIOR PANEL WALL STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1965 III'IIIIII III [N VENTOR. r/Eiiffif z. JAZZ/AZ km United States Patent 3,359,700 SEALING MEANS FOR EXTERIOR PANEL WALL STRUCTURES Herbert L. Birum, Jr., Pleasant Valley, Titusville. NJ. 08560 Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 509,704 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-628) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention teaches means for sealing exterior panel wall structures so as to prevent ingress of wind and water or moisture and to prevent the collection thereof within the interior of the building facing.

In building facings comprised of exterior panel wall structures secured to a building superstructure by both vertical and horizontal exterior battens, such battens normally abut one another either along a straight line at right-angles or a combination thereof so as to form stra1ght line batten assemblies, right-angle, T-shaped and X-shaped intersections at the locations where the exterior battens intersect one another. Some spacing is left therebetween for normal expansion and contraction of the individual exterior battens thereby normally providing means for Ingress of wind, water or moisture. In order to seal such intersecting regions, a sealing means is provided which is comprised of a fiat substantially rigid re-enforcing plate having at least one surface thereof being provided with a resilient pad which is fitted or otherwise positioned in the immediate region of the intersecting battens so as to completely seal the spacings or gaps between the abutting eX- terior battens. In cases where the interior surfaces of the batten members are provided with suitable projections for receiving fastening means these projections are machined away to provide a fiat surface region of dimensions sufficient to suitably position the sealing means against the fiat interior surfaces of the batten members. The sealing means is compressed into position by the exterior panel members as a result of the tightening of the batten members to the building superstructure so as to cause the batten members to compress and firmly hold the exterior panels between the batten members and the building superstructure. The resilient pad has sufficient resiliency so as to adequately seal the above mentioned gaps whereas the re-enforcing plate provides suitable backing re-enforcement to prevent warping of the resilient pad at any point or points along its entire surface which would otherwise cause the seal to be ineffective.

This invention relates to construction materials and more particularly to novel means for sealing exterior panel Wall structures against wind and water.

Exterior panel wall structures are typically comprised of rectangular shaped panel members secured to the building superstructure by battens which form a frame about each panel or a group of panels. Each batten is provided with resilient sealing means along its longitudinal edges which is pressed between the marginal edges of the panel member and the batten to provide a water-tight seal therebetween. However, the above mentioned sealing means is not effective for providing a water-tight seal at locations where horizontal and/or vertical batten members intersect. Adjacent batten members are positioned with their abutting edges being spaced apart by a small distance to allow for normal expansion of these members. The contacting surfaces between the batten resilient members and the panel Wall marginal edges in the region where these spacings are located do not provide effective sealing and permit water'to enter into the building interior. It is con- 3,359,700 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 ice ventional to provide additional sealing means at such ntersections to make them water-tight.

The spacing between abutting edges of adjacent batten members allow for the passage of air therethrough. Thus, high winds subject the additional sealing means to mechanical stress and strain which leads to ultimate deterioration of the additional sealing means. Likewise, a pressure differential existing on opposite sides of the sealing means will also impose a severe strain upon the sealing means.

The instant invention contemplates a sealing means which provides an excellent water-tight seal in addition to either eliminating or greatly reducing the exposure of the sealing means to mechanical stress or strain, thereby great 1y increasing the useful operating life of the structure.

The instant invention is comprised of a fiat, rectangular shaped reinforcing or backing member which is preferably formed from a suitable metallic material but can alternatively be formed of a flexible but non-stretchable metallie or plastic material. Both surfaces of the reinforcing or backing member are joined to first and second resilient members having substantially the same general periphery as the backing member or plate. These resilient members may be formed of rubber, such as sponge rubber, neoprene or any other suitable resilient material. The individual intersecting batten members which are conventionally provided with a centrally located projection running the length of each batten member are machined so as to cut back the projection by a predetermined amount so as to provide a substantially fiat engaging surface for receiving one marglnal edge of the resilient sealing means. With all the batten members being so machined in this manner and appropriately positioned, these members define an area in which the resilient sealing means may be positioned. Each of the resilient sheets is firmly squeezed between a batten member and the marginal edges of an associated panel Wall member. Since there exists a resilient member between any two adjacent non-resilient members (i.e., panel wall member and batten member) the marginal area defined by engaging the surfaces of battens and panel wall members provide an excellent water-tight seal. The backing member or plate substantially prevents both resilient members from experiencing any bending or warping and further acts to prevent any pressure differential or other a1r pressure bearing upon either resilient member from acting to bend the member so as to exert stress or strain upon the member. Thus in keeping each of the resilient members substantially static or stationary this greatly increases their useful operating life when Compared with conventional sealing means.

It is, therefore, one object of the instant invention to provide a novel sealing means for use in exterior panel wall structures.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a novel sealing means for exterior panel wall structures to provide a water-tight seal between engaging surfaces of panel walls and supporting their battens.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a novel sealing means for exterior panel wall structures to provide a water-tight seal between engaging surfaces of panel walls and supporting their battens, wherein the sealing means is comprised of a substantially rectangularly shaped backing plate having rectangular shaped sheets of resilient members secured to opposite surfaces thereof.

These and other objects of the instant invention will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of intersecting batten members employing the sealing means of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exterior perspective view of the intersecting batten arrangement of FIGURE 1; I

FIGURES 3a and 3b are perspective views showing alternative embodiments for the sealing means of the instant invention;

FIGURES 4a and 412 show the manner in which the sealing means of the instant invention may be used in other intersecting batten arrangements.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURES l and 2 show an assembly of batten members for use in rigidly positioning and supporting a plurality of panel members 11 through 14, which are comprised of sheets of wallforming material of a composition suitable for use in exterior panel wall structures. The four panel walls are rigidly positioned and supported along their exterior surfaces by the vertical battens 15 and 16, respectively, and the horizontal battens 17 and 18, respectively. As will be noted, the opposing edges of battens 15 and 16 provide a small space 19 therebetween for the purpose of allowing for free expansion and contraction of the batten members due to expectant changes in ambient temperature. In the same manner and for these reasons horizontally aligned batten member 17 is spaced from vertically aligned batten members 15 and 16 by a predetermined spacing 20 while horizontally aligned batten member 18 is spaced from vertical battens 15 and 16 by a predetermined spacing 21.

Each of the batten members 15 through 18 is provided with a projection 15a to 18a, respectively, along its interior surface for the purpose of receiving a threaded fastening member such as the threaded fastening member 22, for example, for the purpose of securing each batten to an inner or interior batten member so as to rigidly embrace the panel members such as, for example, the panel members 11 and 12, therebetween. The inner batten members, such, for example, as the inner batten member 23, may be suitably secured to the building structure in any well known manner. The advantage of the arrangement shown in the figures is such as to permit installation of the entire exterior panel wall assembly from the interior of the building, thus greatly facilitating assembly thereof.

Considering FIGURE 1, which shows the view of the interior surface of the exterior batten members, it can be seen that each of the projections 15a through 18a, respectively, has been machined or otherwise removed so as to have its end a spaced distance from the edge of the batten member. This is done for the purpose of receiving the substantially rectangularly shaped resilient sealing means in a manner to be more fully described.

Each of the vertical batten members 15 through 18 are further provided with a pair of double undercut grooves 15b15c through 18b18c, respectively (1617-160 and 175-170 not being visible in FIGURES l and 2) for the purpose of receiving sealing strips 24, each of which is preferably provided with a plurality of grooves along one surface thereof, and a projection 26 along the opposite surface thereof for being received by the double undercut grooves 15b-15c through 18b-18c of the vertical batten members 15 through 18, respectively. These sealing strips are sandwiched between the marginal edges :of batten members 15 through 18 and the marginal edges of the panel walls 11 through 14, so that when the fastening means, such as, for example, fastening means 22, are suitably tightened, the resilient sealing strips 24 will provide an adequate water-tight seal between these engaging surfaces. However, in the immediate region of the inner section of battens 15 through 18 this adequate watertight seal no longer exists and it becomes important to provide some auxiliary or complementary sealing means for performing this function. For this reason the instant invention provides a novel resilient sealing means 27 which can best be seen in FIGURES 3a and 3b. This resilient sealing arrangement is comprised of a backing plate or member 28 which, in one preferred embodiment, may be formed of a fiat sheet of metal, but alternatively may be formed of either a rigid or bendable sheet of plastic material with the only requirement for the backing plate being that it is substantially incapable of being stretched. The first and second sheets 29 and 30 of resilient material are firmly adhered to opposite surfaces of the backing plate 28. The resilient material employed may be rubber, such as sponge rubber, neoprene, or any other suitable material capable of being substantially readily compressed under pressure. The rectangular sealing means 27 is positioned in the manner shown in FIG- URE l by the dotted rectangular configuration 27' (and is also shown by the dotted rectangular configuration 27 in FIGURE 2). One resilient sheet, for example, sheet 29, is compressed between the backing plate 28 and the batten members 15 through 18, respectively, while the remaining resilient sheet 30 is compressed between the backing plate 28 and the panel wall members 11 through 14. This arrangement provides an extremely adequate water-tight seal in the substantially L-shaped marginal areas shown in FIGURE 2 anddesignated by the numerals 31 through 34, respectively.

While FIGURE 1 shows the sealing strips 24 as having their opposing edges abutting the periphery of the sealing member 27, it should be understood that the sealing strips 24 can be extended as shown by the dotted extension 24' so as to underlie sealing member 27 in order to further improve the water-tight seal.

The spacings 19, 20 and 21 previously referred to effectively expose the sealing member 27 to wind pressure or to pressure differential between the exterior and interior sides of the panel wall structure. Any pressure or pressure differential is prevented from effecting either of the resilient sealing strips 29 or 30 by virtue of the presence of the backing or reinforcing plate 28. While one preferred embodiment of the reinforcing plate 28 may be use of a metallic plate, it should be understood that a flexible or bendable member is also sufficient, it being understood that whatever member be employed, have the characteristic that it is not capable of being stretched to any significant degree. Thus, for example, a piece of Teflon tape may be substituted for the backing plate 28. The use of resilient sheets on both sides of the backing plate insures an extremely large marginal area of engagement between the panel Wall members 11 through 14 and the battens 15 through 18.

Since not all of the entire surface area of the resilient sheets 29 and 30 are required for the purpose of providing the Water-tight seal, it is possible to cut the central portion of each resilient member away in the manner shown in FIGURE 312. Thus, for example, the resilient member 30 of FIGURE 3a may be replaced by a resilient frame shaped member 30 having a width W sufiicient to insure a substantially large area of contact between the resilient frame shaped sheet 30 and the batten members 15 through 18, respectively. The remaining resilient sheet may be formed in a like manner or may be a continuous sheet as was previously described, thus providing any one of three combinations, namely, two continuous sheets; one continuous sheet and one frame shaped sheet; or two frame shaped sheets. In the case where an embodiment compressing one frame shaped sheet and one continuous sheet is used, either of the sheets may be brought into contact with the batten member depending only upon the needs of the user. By machining the projections 15a through back in the manner best shown in FIGURE 1, this arrangement greatly simplifies fabrication of the sealing means 27, permitting it to have a regular rectangular shape. While FIGURE 1 shows only one sealing strip as being extended so as to underlie the sealing means 27', it should be understood that all of the sealing strips can be so extended as to underlie sealing means 27.

FIGURES 4a and 4b show additional arrangements of batten intersections which may employ the sealing means of the instant invention. For example, considering FIG- URE 4, two batten members 35 and 36 are shown therein having a spacing 37 therebetween. These batten members position and support first and second panel wall members 38 and 39. The inner projections 35a and 36a of these batten members are cut or otherwise machined so as to have their right and left-hand edges spaced inwardly from the right and left-hand edges, respectively, of battens 35 and 36, thereby providing a region for receipt of the sealing member 27". The region of the water-tight seal is shown by marginal areas 40 and 41. As was previously the case, the sealing strips 30 may either abut the adjacent edges of sealing means 27" or may underlie them as desired.

In the T-intersection, shown in FIGURE 4b, the batten members 42-44 have their central projections 42a44a, respectively, cut back so as to provide a substantially flat region for the receipt of the resilient sealing means 27". These battens act to position and support the panel wall sheets 45-47. The water-tight seal provided by sealing means 27" is represented by the marginal regions designated 48-50, respectively. It can clearly be seen that the resilient sealing means of the instant invention provides an adequate water-tight seal in the region of intersecting battens so as to completely prevent the entrance of water through the exterior panel wall assembly to the building interior. Since the resilient members are positioned beneath the outer batten members 1548 of FIG- URE l, for example, they are in no way exposed and hence do not in any way detract from the aesthetic appearance of the exterior panel wall structure. The provision of resilient sealing sheets on opposite surfaces of the backing plate guarantees adequate contacting surfaces between batten members and panel wall sheets to provide the adequate water-tight seal while the backing plate therebetween prevents any wind or other air pressure differential which may exist on opposing sides of the sealing member from affecting or distorting the resilient members thereby greatly increasing their useful operating lives.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An exterior panel wall assembly for buildings and the like being comprised of a plurality of exterior panel wall members;

a plurality of elongated batten strips framing the marginal edges of said panel members and engaging said panel wall members for rigidly positioning and supporting said members;

selected ones of said batten strips having the edges of adjacent ends being spaced a sufl'icient distance apart to allow for expansion and contraction of said batten strips;

fastening means positioned between said batten panel members and the building for securing said batten strips to the building; 2

each of said batten strips having a central projection extending the length of each strip and projecting toward said fastening means;

resilient sealing means;

a portion of the central projection of the batten strips having edges adjacent one another being removed to present a substantially flat surface for seating a portion of said sealing means;

said sealing means being comprised of first and second substantially flat rectangular shaped resilient sheets capable of changing its thickness under application of pressure thereto;

a third substantially flat rectangular shaped sheet of material having dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of said first and second resilient sheets being sandwiched between said first and second sheets and being secured to said first and second sheets by suitable adhesive means;

said third sheet being substantially incapable of being stretched to prevent stretching of said first and second resilient sheets;

said sealing means being positioned between batten strips having adjacent edges to the margin of said panel members so as to be compressed therebetween to provide a water-tight seal at such locations while preventing deformation of said first and second resilient sheets.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said third sheet is formed of a thin metallic sheet.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said third sheet is formed of a thin plastic sheet.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one .of said first and second sheets has its central portion removed to form a frame shaped configuration.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein selected ones of said batten strips form a T-shaped intersection the central portion of said selected batten strips are removed to form a substantially flat surface having a substantially rectangular shaped perimeter for seating said sealing means.

'6. The device of claim 1 wherein selected ones of said batten strips form a substantially X-shaped intersection, the central portion of said selected batten strips are removed to form a substantially flat surface having a substantially rectangular shaped perimeter for seating said sealing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,769,212 11/1956 Hammitt et al 52-750 3,052,330 9/1962 Hammitt et al. 52-235 3,162,279 12/1964 Leininger et a1. 52417 3,266,207 8/1966 Birum 52459 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner.

RAYMOND D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EXTERIOR PANEL WALL ASSEMBLY FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE BEING COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OF EXTERIOR PANEL WALL MEMBERS; A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED BATTEN STRIPS FRAMING THE MARGINAL EDGES OF SAID PANEL MEMBERS AND ENGAGING SAID PANEL WALL MEMBERS FOR RIGIDLY POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING SAID MEMBERS; SELECTED ONES OF SAID BATTEN STRIPS HAVING THE EDGES OF ADJACENT ENDS BEING SPACED A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE APART TO ALLOW FOR EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF SAID BATTEN STRIPS; FASTENING MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID BATTEN PANEL MEMBERS AND THE BUILDING FOR SECURING SAID BATTEN STRIPS TO THE BUILDING; EACH OF SAID BATTEN STRIPS HAVING A CENTRAL PROJECTION EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF EACH STRIP AND PROJECTING TOWARD SAID FASTENING MEANS; RESILIENT SEALING MEANS; A PORTION OF THE CENTRAL PROJECTION OF THE BATTEN STRIPS HAVING EDGES ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER BEING REMOVED TO PRESENT A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SURFACE FOR SEATING A PORTION OF SAID SEALING MEANS; SAID SEALING MEANS BEING COMPRISED OF FIRST AND SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RECTANGULAR SHAPED RESILIENT SHEETS CAPABLE OF CHANGING ITS THICKNESS UNDER APPLICATION OF PRESSURE THERETO; 